PEF E. Board supports campaign for greater state accountability

By SHERRY HALBROOK and LINDA RUBIN
Funding for the first phase of a PEF campaign to restore accountability and transparency to the funding and provision of state services was approved by the PEF Executive Board at the final meeting of 2004, held November 18-19 in Albany.

The board appropriated $150,000 from PEF’s Privatization Contingency Fund to launch the campaign with the understanding that a proposed second appropriation for $850,000 for the campaign would be considered at the March 2005 meeting.

The board also approved a tentative agreement with its staff union, United Steelworkers of America Local 9265, and a synopsis of benefits for PEF’s management/confidential employees who are not covered by the USWA contract.

In addition, the board approved the rules and constituency apportionments for the election of delegates to the 2005 PEF convention, which will be held in Rochester in September.

PEF President Roger Benson reported on the status of a pre-tax transportation benefit and other contract matters, job security issues, member mobilization, retirement reform, the parole fragmentation matter before the state Public Employment Relations Board and the AFL-CIO restructuring proposal from the Service Employees International Union.

Two representatives of the Office of the State Comptroller — First Deputy Commissioner Tom Sanzillo and Deputy Comptroller Laura Anglin — addressed the board on current financial issues affecting the state pension fund.

PEF Secretary-Treasurer Jane Hallum discussed and clarified the role of the secretary-treasurer and reviewed her financial report: the “Executive Board Meeting Year-to-Date September 2004 Financial Statements.” 

The board approved Hallum’s proposal to fund installation of voice mail at PEF’s Rochester and Buffalo field offices, and a Web server for improvements in reporting data about PEF divisions.

The appointment of five Executive Board members to an Ethics Hearing Panel was also approved. And the board overturned a ruling by the PEF Divisions Committee on a timeliness matter and referred the underlying matter back to the committee for a decision on the merits.